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Top1. Introduction
The development plans for cities intend an important means of reaching physical, economic and social goals, through their effects on public and private development (UNHSP, UN-H, 2020). In developed countries many researchers have confirmed that it has a powerful influence on the revitalization of existing city for livability, future spatial expansion, quality and pattern of the cities (Ahmad, 2012; Belkina, 2008; Berke, 2006; Bulkeley, 2006). However, many developing countries are facing impediments to implement such plans and Pakistan has no exception (Hussnain et al, 2020; Airey and Doughty, 2020; Ahamd and Anjum, 2011;). Failure has also been faced by the developed countries but with the passage of time, these countries brought drastic changes into their planning system and institutional framework. Worldwide, various scholars have worked upon this issue and foster various reasons such as inadequacy of technical skill and planning expertise, poor interagency coordination, fragmentation of power and functions at the local government level remains as a basic cause of the plan’s failure. Monitoring of the plans proposals, corruption or intimate linkages of government officials and land developers particularly in case of land use management measures also weaken the effective enforcement of development plan policies in cities (Seasons, M. 2009; Berke, 2006; UN Habitat, 2009).
However, these measures are not sufficient to deepen our understanding regarding the reason behind the ill-implementation of development plans in Pakistan. Most of these researches are single dimensional and are not in tune with our system. In our case the issue is not pertinent to a single aspect, but is caused due to various factors. Therefore, neither the quality of development plans nor its governance procedure could solely be made responsible. We need to check the whole practice, necessary for the effective implementation of development plan rather than a single aspect to find viable solution. Other components such as inadequate legal and regulatory support, incapacitated institutions, vicious political interference and the plan quality itself are causing the failure in Pakistan (Ahmad, 2012). Therefore, the primary objective set forth for this research is to compare and identify lacunas/gray areas through review of a developed country urban planning system and the system of urban planning in Pakistan. This review covers all aspects i.e legal provision, institutional framework and the plan document itself so that to learn a lesson for reforms in Pakistan.